Suspended rail-joint.



PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904.

W. P. & S. G. THOMSON.

SUSPENDED RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED 10110.12, 1903.

NO MODEL.

a 544a M INVENTORS M 71% WETN ESQES UNTTED STATES Patented September 13, 1904.

PATENT EETcE.

WILLIAM P. THOMSON, OF LANSDOVVNE, AND SAMUEL Gr. THOMSON, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

' SUSPENDED RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,026, dated September 13, 1904.

Application filed December 12, 1903. Serial No. 184,897. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM P. THOMSON, of Lansdowne, Delaware county, and SAMUEL Gr. THOMSON, of Altoona, Blair county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Suspended Rail-Joint, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a portion of the railway-track provided with our improved angle bar. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the joint. Figs. 3 and at are views showing, respectively, a side elevation of a modified form of bar and an end view of the bars in place, one being shown in section; and Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 3 and e, showing another form of our invention.

Our invention relates to the angle-bars used for suspended rail-joints, and is designed to provide an improved joint of the type wherein the angle-bars extend between the ties and do not extend horizontally over the ties at the ends of the joint.

In the drawings, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 2 2 represent the meeting ends of the rails, and 3 3 the ties at the ends of the joint. The angle-bars at opposite sides of the joint are similar in character and each consists of an upper vertically-extending portion 4:, the head 5 of which fits under the head of the rail, an intermediate sloping portion 6. which fits on the base-flange of the rail, and a free depending flange, which in this form has an inwardlyprojecting portion 7 and an inner depending vertical portion 8. The portion 7 extends inwardly at an angle between the horizontal and an angle of forty-five degrees thereto, and the vertical plane passing through the outer edge of the rail-head extends through the intermediate portion of the part 4: of the anglebar, preferably ator adjacent to the center of gravity of this portion 4h The center of gravity of the entire angle-bar is brought in close to the center of gravity of the rail by the inwardly-projecting flange and by the position of the part 4, thus decreasing the tendency of the bars to spread outwardly under the load. The depending flanges are freethat is, they are not connected to each other-and are free to spring inward or outward under the load.

In the form of Figs. 3 and 4 the depending flange 7 extends vertically instead of being bent inwardly, as in the forms of Figs. 1 and 2. I

In the form of Figs. 5 and 6 the portion 8 of the free depending flanges is removed and the ends of the angle-bars are cut at a slight angle instead of at right angles to the lower edge of the flange.

In all of the forms the portion 6 slopes outwardly-and downwardly and fits neatly on the upper sloping face of. the rail-base. It projects beyond the edge of the rail-base, so that the depending flange is free from this base.

The advantages of our invention result from the cutting oif of the angle-bars, so that the portions 4 and 6 do not extend horizontally over the ties, in connection with the fitting of the parts 6 upon the rail-base and the free depending flange.

We do not claim herein the angle-bar having a free depending flange extending at an inward angle below the rail-base and having at its inner end a depending vertically-extending portion. This is broadly claimed in our copending application, Serial No. 18 L896, filed December 12, 1903.

The ends of the angle-bar may be cut off on a curve or other line, provided the angle-bar does not extend horizontally over the ties, and many other variations may be made in the form and arrangement of the angle-bar and the flange without departing from our invention.

We claim 1. In a suspended rail-joint an angle-bar terminating at the adjacent edges of the ties and free from end portions arranged to lie on or over the ties, said bar having a depending free flange extending between the ties, the intermediate portion of the angle-bar sloping outwardly and downwardly and fitting on the rail-base; substantially as described.

2. In a suspended rail-joint an angle-bar terminating at the adjacent edges of the ties and free from end portions arranged to lie on or over the ties, said bar having a free depending flange in its intermediate portion beneath the meeting ends of the rails, said free flange projecting inwardly at an angle to the Vertical; substantially as described.

3. In a suspended rail-joint an angle-bar terminating at the ties and free from end portions arranged to lie on or over the ties, said bar having a free depending flange extending between the ties, said flange projecting inwardly at a sharp angle between the horizontal and an angle of forty-five degrees thereto; substantially as described.

4. In a suspended rail-joint an angle-bar terminating at the ties and having a free depending flange extending between the ties, said flange projecting inwardly at a sharp angle between the horizontal and an angle of forty-five degrees thereto, and having a depending vertical portion at its inner end; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands.

-WILLIAM P. THOMSON. SAMUEL Gr. THOMSON.

Witnesses:

S. E. PATTERSON, O. A. PEFFER. 

